B.C. Election 2017: NDP unleash negative health firings ad

Roderick MacIsaac, a former researcher with the ministry of health, who was one of 8 employees fired in 2012 over allegations involving the mishandling of research into pharmaceutical drugs. MacIssac later killed himself. Family handout / PNG

B.C. New Democrats unveiled an attack ad Tuesday that condemned Liberal leader Christy Clark for the suicide of one of the health researchers fired in 2012, and marked an even deeper dive into negative party advertising just one week before voting day.

The NDP ad, which was posted on the party’s YouTube channel, features Linda Kayfish, the sister of the late Roderick MacIsaac, chastising Clark for the wrongful dismissals of eight researchers.

Kayfish points out, as did last month’s Ombudsperson’s report, that there was insufficient proof to justify the 2012 firings and that government treated them unfairly. “It was a pile of lies,” she says in the ad. MacIsaac took his own life three months later.

The Ombudsperson’s report called the firings unjust and a mistake within the provincial civil service, but said there was no evidence of political interference by Clark or her ministers.

“We will never know what really went on,” Kayfish said in the ad. “Premier Clark, she did not get to the bottom of this and she made a promise that she would.

“If you are going to be the premier of the province, you’ve got to be the leader. We need to know our leaders are going to hold their people accountable for what’s going on in their ministries instead of just paying lip service. She needs to be accountable. That’s the job we hired her for. She’s failed again.”

The NDP ad is arguably one of the most negative in an election campaign that has seen both main parties aim blistering attack ads at each other. Perhaps recognizing that significance, the NDP does not display its logo during the 2:40-minute running time, nor does it conclude with any messaging to vote New Democrat on May 9.

Leader John Horgan was asked Tuesday if he is worried that voters will think his party is exploiting Kayfish’s loss for his political gain.

“Not at all,” he said. “I’m absolutely proud of Linda Kayfish, and I’m proud that she’s been given voice to speak for her brother who can’t speak for himself.”

NDP deputy director Glen Sanford said the ad fits into the NDP’s theme of showing how real people are impacted by the Liberals.

“She’s a strong individual who has a very strong story she wants to tell about the impact this Christy Clark government has had on her family and British Columbians,” he said. “I think she has every right to tell that story, and it’s an important story.”

The Liberals refused to engage on the issue. “It is clear that Ms. Kayfish is still grieving from the loss of her brother,” the party said in a statement. “We won’t be commenting further on the B.C. NDP’s political ad.”

Clark has apologized in the legislature for the botched firing , and on April 11 offered to meet Kayfish and apologize in person. The Liberals say unsuccessful attempts have been made since then to set up a meeting through Kayfish’s lawyer (who is the spouse of an NDP incumbent).

For her part, Kayfish said in an interview Tuesday the goal was to tell people her brother did nothing wrong, that he was vindicated, and remind them how poorly he was treated by the Liberal government.

“This has just been one long road,” she said. “It started before the last election and it’s still going on.

“We’re trying to put this all behind us,” she added. “It’s been five years of hell for everybody.”

Kayfish said she’s not sure an apology would suffice anymore.

“I don’t know how sincere it would be at this point, a forced apology,” she said. “(Clark) hasn’t done it on her own. Nor has anybody who was really involved bothered to come forward and say anything like ‘I’m sorry for my part in this.’ Not a one of them.”

Kayfish was reluctant to say if the ultimate goal of the ad so close to an election was to influence voters and push Clark out of office.

“I’m no fan of Christy Clark’s and I’m kind of old school,” she said. “I vote where my heart takes me, and that’s where it’s going to go.”

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